Biological versus Feminists Perspectives on Girls' Underperformance in STEM Subjects in Pakistan

Abstract

This article outlines the biological essentialists’ versus feminists’ explanations of girls’ underperformance in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Historically, except in the contexts of some developed countries, boys dominated girls in STEM subjects. Biological essentialists associate girls’ underperformance in STEM with the innate differences between men and women, whereas feminists attribute it to social factors. The issue, however, is not so easily solved and there is an ongoing debate between biological essentialists and feminists. This article, thus, engages in a comparative analysis of the two approaches, their underlying principles and the empirical evidences they use to substantiate their stance. The analysis of both approaches enables the authors to better decipher the connection between gender and education performance. This article explains that social rather than biological factors influence girls’ performance in STEM subjects. The article concludes that girls’ underperformance in STEM subjects' results from sociocultural factors.

Bridging the Gap: Progressive Teaching Strategies for Gender Equity in STEM Education

“…Promoting gender equity in STEM education confronts local challenges and taps into unique opportunities. Identifying barriers specific to the community, while leveraging local strengths, guides targeted interventions [11]. Respondents discussed how traditional expectations and societal norms can discourage girls from pursuing STEM education.…”

“…Despite the historical contributions of women in STEM fields, they have often faced systemic barriers to full participation. Efforts to address this imbalance have intensified in recent decades, with initiatives aimed at dismantling barriers and fostering inclusivity [11].…”

The Secondary School Students’ Interest toward the TVET Programs: Demographic Differences

“…The study conducted in Pakistan by Ullah et al (2020) discovered that the gender of students plays a significant role in their parents' decision to enroll them at schools. Boys were considered to be more talented compared to girls, and parents claimed that their sons outperformed their daughters.…”

“…However, when teachers of engineering and technology add compelling, http://ijlter.org/index.php/ijlter real-world activities, both males and females become more interested (Adewale & Adhuze, 2017 ). Ullah et al (2020) considered capability, or the capacity for functioning, as the variable that should be equalized amongst persons while taking into account their diverse characteristics. Men and women are equally well-off if they possess equal primary commodities, although women may be at a disadvantage in Pakistan, owing to personal qualities or gender roles.…”